Discovering the Egadi

Posted On October 3, 2018

Starting from the port of Trapani and taking a ferry to Sicily or a hydrofoil, there are several that leave throughout the day, you can reach any of the three main islands that make up the archipelago of the Egadi.
The archipelago consists of three major ones, Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo and other minor ones, Maraone, Formica, the islands of Stagnone, Galera, Galeotta, Fariglione and, since 1991, it has been the natural reserve of the Egadi islands.

The archipelago shows traces of ancient human settlements, were then bases of Carthaginian settlements and finally passed to the Romans.
The islands also have a rich gastronomic tradition with couscous, marinated tuna, roasted swordfish, fried tuna “tuna” and preserves are particularly prized: tuna in olive oil, bottarga and salted tuna.

Favignana is the most important of the three main islands, famous for its characteristic stone, for caves and for tuna traps. In fact, the traditional mattanza is one of the most important island tourist activities. Also worth visiting is the tonnara which is, in effect, a sort of museum linked to tuna fishing and its processing.

Also valuable are its beaches, among which, Cala Azzurra, Lido Burrone and Cala Rossa.
Levanzo is the smallest of the Egadi, consists only a few houses and the beach of Faraglione but this, and the presence of several caves (the Grotta del Genovese to name one) makes it a marvel of nature.
Marettimo, the third island, is according to the Trapanese theory of the Odyssey, the mythical Ithaca, homeland of Ulysses.

Inhabited since ancient times, it boasts the Castle of Punta Troia (1140), from the Norman period. From a naturalistic point of view, Marettimo is unique, presenting different endemic plants and different caves.
Finally mention S. Pantaleo (better known as Mozia), part of this archipelago and included in the group of the islands of Stagnone (from the name of the largest lagoon of Sicily) and in the Regional Natural Reserve of the islands of the Stagnone di Marsala.

Mozia is famous as an archaeological site for the remains of an ancient Phoenician colony and archaeologically presents the remains of a settlement as early as the end of the eighth century BC. and it was probably almost completely abandoned in the III century BC

In the eleventh century a Basilian monastery was founded and the island took the name of the founder of the order.
The archaeological excavations began in 1792 at the behest of the baron Rosario Alagna and they had a remarkable impetus under Joseph Whitaker in the ‘900 who also founded a museum there.

Le Egadi is an exclusive place to visit, able to satisfy both art lovers, both sea lovers and those of good cuisine, offering its visitors first-rate hospitality in hotels, agritourism and bed and breakfasts.